Illicium plant named ‘NCIH2’

ABSTRACT

‘NCIH2’ is a new cultivar of hybrid  Illicium  with remontant flowering, a compact habit, and large, white flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel plant variety disclosed herein is Illicium.

Variety denomination: The inventive hybrid of Illicium disclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination ‘NCIH2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Illicium, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘NCIH2’. ‘NCIH2’ was selected from a population of seedlings grown from an open-pollinated F₁ hybrid of Illicium mexicanum x Illicium floridanum (2014-318, unpatented). The first asexual propagation of ‘NCIH2’ was carried out in July 2007 by rooting stem cuttings in Mills River, N.C. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over a 9-year period. ‘NCIH2’ roots readily from softwood cuttings treated with a basal dip of 5,000-10,000 ppm indole butyric acid (potassium salt) in water. Time to rooting for semi-hardwood cuttings is approximately 6 weeks at about 30° C. has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the unique combination of characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under standard horticultural practices in Mills River, N.C.

-   -   1. Remontant flowering: Primarily in the spring and fall and         sporadically throughout the growing season.     -   2. A compact, upright habit.     -   3. Large, white flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new Illicium is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's flowers, foliage and form. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new hybrid Illicium.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the habit and fall flowering of ‘NCIH2’ September 2009 on a four-year-old field-grown shrub.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the flower of ‘NCIH2’ in spring 2013 on a three-year-old container-grown shrub.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the flower morphology of ‘NCIH2’ in July 2013 on a three-year-old container-grown shrub.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct hybrid Illicium variety plant known by the denomination ‘NCIH2’. The detailed description was taken on a three-year-old field-grown plant in Mills River, N.C. in 2015. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, London, sixth edition, 2015. Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical name.—Illicium ‘NCIH2’.         -   Common name.—Anise-tree. -   Parentage: Seedling grown from an open-pollinated, F₁ hybrid     Illicium mexicanum x Illicium floridanum (2014-318, unpatented)). -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright, compact shrub.         -   Height.—Approximately 1.5 in at maturity.         -   Width.—Approximately 1 m at maturity.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Shoot and stem:     -   -   Lateral branch length.—Avg. 29 cm (range 22 to 46 cm).         -   Lateral branch diameter.—Avg. 0.45 cm (0.3 to 0.6 cm).         -   Branch characteristics.—Moderate to dense branching, angled             approximately 45-75°.         -   Branch shape.—Rounded to obovate.         -   Internode length.—Avg. 9.9 cm (7 to 12 cm).         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Immature shoot color.—Yellow-Green (146B).         -   Mature stem color.—Grey-Brown (199A). -   Leaves:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Aspect.—Leaf angled approximately 15-80° from lateral             branches.         -   Persistence.—Evergreen.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate to pseudo-whorled.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Venation.—Reticulate.         -   Vein color.—Upper: Yellow-Green (144B). Lower: Yellow-Green             (144B).         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Emerging leaves.—Color: Upper: Yellow-Green (144A). Lower:             Yellow-Green (144A). Texture: Glabrous, shiny on both upper             and lower emerging leaves.         -   Mature leaves during growing season.—Color: Upper:             Yellow-Green (146A). Lower: Yellow-Green (146C). Texture:             Glabrous, leathery both upper and lower mature leaves Length             of lamina: Avg. 12.3 cm (9.3 to 17.1 cm). Width: Avg. 3.2 cm             (2.4 to 4.3 cm). Foliage scent: Aromatic, anise-like. Leaf             attachment: Petiolate.         -   Petiole.—Length: Avg. 1.3 cm (0.6 to 1.6 cm). Diameter: Avg.             0.2 cm (0.15 to 0.3 cm). Color: Yellow-Green (144B).             Texture: Glabrous. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering season.—Two primary blooming periods, in April-May             and again in September-November in Mills River, N.C. Flowers             are also produced sporadically throughout the growing             season.         -   Arrangement.—Single flowers, occurring at leaf axils, 1-11             flowers per axil.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—Approximately 5 to 10 days.         -   Fragrance.—Slight anise fragrance.         -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong. Texture: Glaborous. Length: Avg. 1.5 cm             (1.2 to 1,9 cm). Diameter: Avg. 0.8 cm (0.7 to 1 cm). Color:             Yellow-Green (145B).         -   Perianth.—Diameter: Avg. 5.4 cm (5 to 6.5 cm). Height: Avg.             1.2 cm (1 to 1.4 cm).         -   Perianth aspect.—Outward facing to slightly nodding.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Radial, slightly overlapping. Number:             Avg. 22 (18 to 26 petals). Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth. Shape: Strap-shaped. Base: Truncate to             rounded. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Length:             Avg. 2.2 cm (1.2 to 2.7 cm). Width: Avg. 0.25 cm (0.15 to             0.4 cm). Color when opening: Upper: Yellowish-White             (NN155A). Lower: Yellowish-White (NN155A). Color at             maturity: Upper: Yellowish-White (NN155A). Lower:             Yellowish-White (NN155A).         -   Sepal.—Shape: Oblong. Number: Avg. 3 (2-6 sepals). Margin:             Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate to rounded. Color,             immature: Upper: Yellowish-White (NN155A). Lower:             Yellowish-While (NN155A). Color, mature: Upper:             Yellowish-White (NN155A). Lower: Yellowish-White (NN155A).             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Length: Avg.             1.8 cm (1.2 to 2.4 cm). Width: Avg. 0.6 cm (0.5 to 0.6 cm).         -   Peduncle.—Length: Avg. 3.3 cm (2,2 to 4.5 cm). Diameter:             Avg. 0.18 cm (0.15 to 0.2 cm). Color: Yellow-Green (144C).             Surface texture: Glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1 aggregate of 9-14 pistils.             Pistil length: 0.5 cm. Style length: 0.2 cm. Style color:             Yellow-Green (145C).         -   Androecium.—Stamen number: 12 to 36. Stamen length: 0.2 cm             Stamen width: 0.1 cm. Stamen color: Green-White (1574).             Pollen color: White (155B). Pollen abundance: Moderate. -   Fruit and seed:     -   -   Fruit type.—Star-shaped, woody follicetum.         -   Fruit diameter.—Avg. 2.3 cm (2.0 to 2.8 cm).         -   Fruit color.—Immature: Yellow-Green (N144A). Mature: Brown             (N200A).         -   Seed number.—Avg. 13 (9 to 14) per fruit.         -   Seed size.—Length: Avg. 0.8 cm (0.6 to 0.9 cm). Width: Avg.             0.4 cm (0.3 to 0.5 cm). -   Roots: Soft, fibrous young roots, woody older roots (greyed-brown,     RHS 199D). -   Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect     pests have been observed. -   Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone 6a; testing has not been     completed in colder zones.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

Table 1 shows distinguishing characteristics between ‘NCIH2’ and other cultivars. ‘NCIH2’ is distinguished from Illicium ‘Woodland Ruby’ by having a more compact habit, white flowers, and more remontant flowering. ‘NCIH2’ is distinguished from Illicium ‘NCIH1’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/330,894) in that ‘NCIH2’ has white flowers and ‘NCIH1’ has red flowers.

TABLE 1 Comparison to commercial cultivars. Taxa Illicium ‘Woodland Ruby’ Trait (unpatented) Illicium ‘NCIH1’ Illicium ‘NCIH2’ Flowering Mostly April- Remontant. Mostly Remontant. Mostly season May in April-May and in April-May and September- September- November November Plant habit Upright to 2 m Upright to 1.5 m Upright to 1.5 in and size tall and 1.5 in tall and 1 in wide tall and 1 m wide wide Branch Avg. 62 cm Avg. a 30 cm Avg. 29 cm length Petal color Purplish Pink Red-purple Yellowish-White (RHS 63C to (RHS 60A) (RHS NN155A) 67C) Leaf length Avg. 10.6 cm Avg. 9.9 cm Avg. 12.3 cm

COMPARISON WITH FEMALE PARENT

Illicium ‘NCIH2’ is distinguished from its open-pollinated, female parent 2004-318, in that ‘NCIH2’ has white flowers, remontant flowering, and a compact habit, while 2004-318 has pink flowers (RHS 64C), does not have remontant flowering, is much larger growing exceeding 2M tall. 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct hybrid Illicium plant named ‘NCIH2’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 